Windy House is a small farm of 14 hectares (35 acres). It is, functionally, a croft, although not registered as such.
Rather than commercial gain (which is impossible on such high, exposed and infertile ground), the aim of the farm is to re-establish a mosaic of biodiverse habitats.
This involves:
- Restoration of areas damaged by long-term sheep/grass monoculture, through the use of native cattle, sheep and ponies at very low stocking densities.
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Zero chemical use (except medications necessary for animal health).
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No imported fodder (except concentrates for specific need, e.g. severe weather).
It is beyond debate that the demands of the human population are destroying the natural systems of our own planet, and that we utterly lack the collective resolve needed to change direction.
The Windy House holding is a very small gesture, and it will be overwhelmed soon enough, but while it lasts, we will measure success by the level of variety and abundance in the plants, insects and birds which return and flourish.
Everything stems from the health of the soil; its structure and its astonishing world of roots, fungi, bacteria and invertebrates...
The benign destruction of gorse, to accelerate regeneration and spread of the adjacent old birch woodland.
Gorse is a beautiful and useful plant, but has a tendency to spread and dominate. Given time, it is shaded out by adventurous saplings, but we are human, and have little time! So income from other areas of work is used to fund mechanical mulching of strips and patches close to seed-bearing old birch, and the young trees are quick to take advantage. The gorse debris is re-incorporated into the soil, and the reduction of this highly flammable biomass reduces fire risk.